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Nag vs Fuss - What's the difference?

nag | fuss |

As nouns the difference between nag and fuss

is that nag is a small horse; a pony while fuss is excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something.

As verbs the difference between nag and fuss

is that nag is to repeatedly remind or complain to someone in an annoying way, often about insignificant matters while fuss is to be very worried or excited about something, often too much.

nag

English

Etymology 1

(etyl) nagge'', cognate with Dutch ''negge

Noun

(en noun)
  • A small horse; a pony.
  • An old useless horse.
  • (obsolete, derogatory) A paramour.
  • * 1598 , , III. x. 11:
    • Yon ribaudred nag of Egypt – Whom leprosy o'ertake!
    Synonyms
    * (old useless horse) dobbin, hack, jade, plug
    Coordinate terms
    * (old useless horse) bum (racing )

    Etymology 2

    Probably from a (etyl) source; compare Swedish .

    Verb

    (nagg)
  • To repeatedly remind or complain to someone in an annoying way, often about insignificant matters.
  • To act inappropriately in the eyes of peers, to backstab, to verbally abuse.
  • To bother with persistent memories.
    • The notion that he forgot something nagged him the rest of the day.
  • Other sorts of persistent annoyance, e.g.:
    • A nagging pain in his left knee
    A nagging north wind

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who .

    • Anagrams

    * * * * ----

    fuss

    English

    Noun

    (es)
  • Excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something.
  • * (Thomas Carlyle) (1795-1881)
    • zealously, assiduously, and with a minimum of fuss or noise
  • *{{quote-book, year=1935, author= George Goodchild
    • , title=Death on the Centre Court, chapter=1 , passage=“Anthea hasn't a notion in her head but to vamp a lot of silly mugwumps. She's set her heart on that tennis bloke
  • # A complaint or noise.
  • # An exhibition of affection or admiration.
  • One who is unduly anxious about trifles.
  • * (1837-1920)
    • I am a fuss and I don't deny it.

    Verb

    (es)
  • To be very worried or excited about something, often too much.
    • His grandmother will never quit fussing over his vegetarianism.
  • To fiddle; fidget; wiggle, or adjust; to worry something
    • Quit fussing with your hair. It looks fine.
  • (especially of babies) To cry or be ill-humoured.

    • Usage notes

    * Generally used with with, over, or about.

    Verb

    (head)
  • To show affection for, especially animals.
  • To pet.
    • He fussed the cat.

    Derived terms

    * fussy * fuss and bother * no muss no fuss

    References